Mailbox support

ABSTRACT

A mailbox support is provided for swingably supporting a mailbox on a generally horizontal arm. A standard includes a pair of pipes in telescoping relation. The lower pipe is adapted to be anchored in the ground. The upper pipe is rotatably supported by the lower pipe. The large diameter pipe is cut at an angle, the portion below the angle cut being adapted to be fixed and the upper portion being relatively rotatable. The mailbox supporting arm is on the upper rotatable portion, which is raised upwardly as the arm is rotated in either direction by the cam action of the portions of the larger pipe above and below the angle cut.

United States Paten 1 1 m1 3,802,656

Virblas 1 i Apr. 9, 1974 MAILBOX SUPPORT Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz [76] Inventor: August Virblas, 3610 E. 160 St.,

Rosemount, Minn.

[22] Filed: Dec. 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 314,570

[52] US. Cl. 248/145, 248/417 [51] Int. Cl. F16n 13/00 [58] Field of Search 248/145, 417

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,079,510 5/1937 King et al. 248/145 1,299,810 4/1919 Toole et al 248/417 1,584,085 .5/1926 England 248/145 2,605,073 7/1952 Buck 248/145 X Attorney, Agent, or Firm 5 August Virblas 5 7] ABSTRACT A mailbox support is provided for swingably supporting a mailbox on a generally horizontal arm. A standard includes a pair of pipes in telescoping relation. The lower pipe is adapted to be anchored in the ground. The upper pipe is rotatably supported by the lower pipe. The large diameter pipe is cut at an angle, the portion below the angle cut being adapted to be fixed and the upper portion being relatively rotatable. The mailbox supporting arm is on the upper rotatable portion, which is raised upwardly as the arm is rotated in either direction by the cam action of the portions of the larger pipe above and below the angle cut.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures I MAILBOX SUPPORT This invention relates to an improvement in mailbox support and deals particularly with a support including a vertical standard which supports a generally horizontally extending arm to which a mailbox is secured.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A great number of devices have been produced for supporting mailboxes along the edge of a roadway. In view of the fact that mail is often placed in the boxes by the driver of a car or other delivery vehicle, it is necessary that the boxes be directly adjacent to the roadway. As a result, the boxes are often damaged when struck by a snowplow, or any other vehicle moving too close to the edge of the road. If the mailbox is destroyed, or the arm supporting the mailbox broken, it is necessary to repair it immediately if the mail service is to be uninterrupted. Such immediate repair or replacement is often difficult or extremely inconvenient where the accident takes place in cold or inclement weather.

As a protective measure, mailbox supports have been produced which include a standard, and a generally horizontally extending arm pivotally supported by the standard so that the arm will swing about its vertical axis if it is struck by a vehicle. Most devices are quite complicated in form, and often include working parts capable of freezing in cold weather. Any such devices are expensive to produce, restricting the sale. Many such devices also include exposed operating parts which are easily damaged. It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a mailbox support which eliminates many of the previous difficulties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a device for supporting a mailbox so that it may swing about a vertical axis, and yet which is easy to produce, and easy to repair if difficulty is experienced. In general, my device comprises a pair of pipes of cylindrical form including a smaller diameter pipe and a larger diameter pipe which are arranged in telescoping relation. The lower portion of the standard is adapted to be anchored in the ground in the conventional manner. The larger diameter pipe is cut into two parts along an angle cut which may be, for example, an angle of 45 to a plane normal to the pipe axes. The lower portion of the larger diameter pipe is fixed from rotation. The upper portion of the large diameter pipe which is above the angle cut is rotatable relative to the fixed portion. The mailbox supporting arm is supported by the rotatable upper portion of the standard. When force is applied to the mailbox supporting arm, rotatable upper portion of the standard rotates about its axis, the portions of the large diameter pipe on opposite sides of the angle cut serving as a cam to raise the upper portion of the standard and the mailbox. When the force against the mailbox supporting arm is removed, the weight ofthe upper portion of the standard and the members secured thereto tends to return the portions of the large diameter pipe on opposite sides of the angle cut to starting position, swinging the mailbox and its supporting arm back in a normal position.

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that if desired, a simple tension spring may connect portions of the standard on opposite sides of the angle cut, the spring assisting gravity in returning the arm to normal position when desired. I

Two variations of the construction are illustrated, each of which has certain advantages. In one form of construction, the lower portionof the large diameter pipe is anchored in the ground, and the portion of this pipe above the diagonal cut line is secured to the smaller diameter pipe, and the smaller diameter pipe acts to support the horizontally extending mailbox supporting arm. In the alternate form of construction, the small diameter pipe forms the lower portion of the standard and is adapted to be anchored in the ground. In this case, the lower end of the large diameter pipe is secured to the small diameter pipe, and the portion of the large diameter pipe above the angle cut is free to rotate about the axes of the telescoping pipes. In this arrangement, the mailbox supporting arm is anchored to the rotatable upper portion of the large diameter pipe. In both constructions, the upper portion of the standard is rotatable relative to the lower portion thereof, and the angle cut forms inter engaging cam surfaces.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the simplicity of construction which makes it possible to sell the devices at low cost. The only actual fabrication necessary is in the mailbox supporting arm, and its brace. The pipes are readily available, and it is only necessary to produce the diagonal cut in the larger pipe, and to secure the portion of this pipe beneath the angle cut from rotation while swingably supporting the upper portion. As a result the entire device may be economically formed. In actual practice, decorative name. plates and street number plates may be mounted on the standards to enhance the appearance and usefulness of the device.

It is extremely important in the present construction that the anglecut be formed in the exposed outer surface of the large diameter pipe. With this arrangement, it is possible to lubricate the inclined surfaces as well as the relatively rotatable portions of the standard. It is also possible to note the condition of the inclined surfaces by manually swinging the mailbox supporting arm about its axis.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification. and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The mailbox support A illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings includes a relatively larger diameter pipe 10 having its lower end 11 adapted to be anchored in the ground or to another suitable base. A smaller diameter pipe 12 is telescoped into the upper end of the lower standard portion 10, and is slideable and rotat able therein. As indicated in the drawings, the pipe 10 is diagonally cut as indicated at 13 near its upper extremity. In the particular arrangement illustrated, the cut 13 is on a plane at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to a plane normal to the axis of the pipes.

As indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the upper portion 14 of the pipe is secured to the upper pipe 12 by suitable means such as a pin 15. The pin 15 extends diametrically through the upper pipe portion 14 and the pipe 12 to lock them together. A pin or lug 16 is welded or otherwise secured to the lower portion 17 of the large diameter pipe 10, the lug or pin 16 not interfering with the rotation or sliding movement of the pipe 12 telescoped into the lower portion 17 of the outer or larger pipe. A spring 19 which is an ordinary tension spring, tends to urge the pins 15 and 16 together, and assists gravity in returning the upper portion of the standard to its proper position. This spring 19 is not entirely necessary if the two pipes are freely rotatable and slideable.

The mailbox supporting arm indicatd in these figures comprises a pipe 20 engaged in an internally threaded socket 21 of a tee connection 22, the crossbar of the tee connector encircling the pipe 12 and being secured thereto by a set screw or bolt 23 or other suitable means. Alternatively, the tee connector may be also bolted to the pipe 20 as indicated at 23. A brace 24 normally extends from the arm 20 to the pipe 12 to assist in supporting the arm 20, and a pair of cross members 25 are welded in parallel relation at right angles to the upper surface of the pipe 20 to support the mailbox B. A cap 26 or other enclosure is provided at the upper end of the upper standard member 12. The pipe 12 may be provided with a series of bolt holes 27 to accommodate a bracket supporting a name plate or the like.

The cross members 25 are secured at their outer extremities with bumpers 29 to prevent injury to the box B in the event the structure is hit by a moving vehicle. These bumpers are in the form of angle iron members bolted or otherwise secured to the cross members and which extend parallel to the pipe 20. These angle members usually terminate substantially flush with the door end of the mailbox or may project somewhat forwardly therefrom.

While not specifically illustrated in the drawings, the cross members 25 may be of sufficient length to accommodate two or three mailboxes B, or even more. In this event, the cross members extend beyond the outermost mailboxes of the series to support the bumpers 29.

The operation of the device is believed obvious from the foregoing description. When pressure is applied to the mailbox B or the bumpers 29 on the cross members 25 of the supporting arm 20, the upper standard portion 12, together with the upper portion 14 of the pipe 10, rotate. The cooperable edges of the diagonal or angle cut 13 serve as a cam to raise the upper portion of the standard and the mailbox supporting arm as the upper standard portion is rotated. When the force is released, the arm 20 swings back into its normal position by gravity. Gravity may be assisted by the spring 19 if desired.

In the mailbox support C shown in FIG. 3, the small diameter pipe 30 is adapted to be anchored in the ground or secured to a suitable base. The larger diameter pipe 31 is divided into a lower portion 32 and an upper portion 33 by a diagonally extending cut line 34. The lower portion 32 of the larger diameter pipe is pinned or otherwise secured to the small diameter pipe 30 by a pin, bolt or other suitable means 35. The mailbox supporting arm 36 is welded or otherwise secured to the upper portion 33 of the pipe 31.

As indicated in FIG. 4, the arm 36 is welded at 37 to the upper sleeve portion 33 and supports a pair of cross members 39 which in turn support the mailbox B. A brace 40 is secured to the cross arm 36 at its lower end and is welded or otherwise secured at 41 to the upper portion 33 of the pipe 31. The top ofthe pipe portion 31 is closed as indicated at 42. The cross arms 39 extend laterally beyond the sides of the mailbox to support bumpers 42 similar to the bumpers 29.

If desired a lug 43 may be welded to extend radially from the pipe 30. A spring 44 connects the lug 43 to an eye bolt 45 extending downwardly from the arm 36.

The operation of the support C is identical to the operation of the support A, in that when force is exerted against the mailbox B or the supporting arm 36 tending to swing the upper pipe portion 33 about its axis, the rotation of the arm functions to raise the upper portion 33 of the pipe 31 as it rotates. Upon release of this force, the mailbox will return to normal position by gravity. The spring 44 may be used to assistgravity when desired.

In accordance with the Patent Statutes, I have described the principals of construction and operation of my mailbox support; and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A mailbox support including:

a standard a relatively large diameter pipe and a relatively small diameter pipe in telescoping relation to said large diameter pipe,

an angular cut in said large diameter pipe spaced from, and adjacent, the upper end of said large diameter pipe, said angle cut dividing said large diameter pipe into upper and lower portions the surfaces of the angle cut being on an inclined plane and parallel,

a tee connection having its crossbar freely encircling said small diameter pipe above the upper end of said large diameter pipe, said small diameter pipe extending above the level of said large diameter pipe,

means securing the upper portion of said large diameter pipe above said angle cut to said small diameter pipe, and a set screw securing said tee to said small diameter pipe to prevent relative rotation,

mailbox supporting pipes threaded into the stern of the tee connecter to extend at right angular relation to said standard,

a pair of parallel cross-members secured to said mailbox supporting pipe, said cross-members being longer than the width of the mailbox,

a mailbox supported by said cross-members in parallel relation to said mailbox supporting pipe,

. an angle iron secured to the ends of said crossmembers parallel to said mailbox supporting pipe, said angle irons having a vertical flange presenting a bumper wall on either side of said mailbox,

said means securing the upper portion of said large diameter pipe to said smaller diameter pipe including a pin extending through said pipes normal to the axes thereof and having a headed end in spaced relation to said pipe,

a second pin extending normally to the axes of said pipes and secured to said large diameter pipe, and

a spring secured between said pins. 

1. A mailbox support including: a standard a relatively large diameter pipe and a relatively small diameter pipe in telescoping relation to said large diameter pipe, an angular cut in said large diameter pipe spaced from, and adjacent, the upper end of said large diameter pipe, said angle cut dividing said large diameter pipe into upper and lower portions the surfaces of the angle cut being on an inclined plane and parallel, a tee connection having its crossbar freely encircling said small diameter pipe above the upper end of said large diameter pipe, said small diameter pipe extending above the level of said large diameter pipe, means securing the upper portion of said large diameter pipe above said angle cut to said small diameter pipe, and a set screw securing said tee to said small diameter pipe to prevent relative rotation, mailbox supporting pipes threaded into the stem of the tee connecter to extend at right angular relation to said standard, a pair of parallel cross-members secured to said mailbox supporting pipe, said cross-members being longer than the width of the mailbox, a mailbox supported by said cross-members in parallel relation to said mailbox supporting pipe, an angle iron secured to the ends of said cross-members parallel to said mailbox supporting pipe, said angle irons having a vertical flange presenting a bumper wall on either side of said mailbox, said means securing the upper portion of said large diameter pipe to said smaller diameter pipe including a pin extending through said pipes normal to the axes thereof and having a headed end in spaced relation to said pipe, a second pin extending normally to the axes of said pipes and secured to said large diameter pipe, and a spring secured between said pins. 